At the 1984 Annual Conference, Bishop John Hurst Adams assigned Reverend Henry D. Harper to the Temple Hills area on a Mission to find a suitable location for a new church. Rev. Harper worked very closely with Rev. George A. Manning of Hunter Memorial A.M.E. Church and Rev. Leon G. Lipscombe of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church to find the best possible location for the new church. 

​

On May 27, 1984, the first service was held at Glassmanor Elementary School in Forest Heights, Maryland. Many members of Hunter Memorial A.M.E. Church, Rev. Harper’s former church, attended the service. Two ministers, Robbie Morton and Michael Bethea, assisted Rev. Harper diligently in the development of the Sunday Church Services, and other aspects of the  Church.

​

On the third Sunday of July 1984, Presiding Elder Walter Hildebrand approved Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church as the name of the new church. Saint Mark grew rapidly and by the end of the first full church year the total membership had increased to 49 with  a church budget of $7,000.

​

On December 15, 1989, Pastor Harper and the Saint Mark Family entered into a lease  with the option to buy the property located at 5427 Indian Head Highway – formerly home to a Geno’s Restaurant and later to a video store. It was on February 11, 1990, that Saint Mark opened the doors of this facility for what was its first service in its new home. On April 16, 1993, Saint Mark exercised its lease option and purchased the property for $100,000 below the appraised value.

​

In the Year 2000, Saint Mark purchased the two-story office building next door to the church. It has since been renovated and is now the Henry D. Harper Family Life Center, which is used for offices, meetings and classrooms.

​

Under the leadership of Rev. Jonathan Davis, Saint Mark continues to be a community church, participating in community projects that focus on the enhancements of people’s lives both physical and spiritual. Saint Mark has as its motto: “A Church of Love Serving the God of  Love.” This motto is the foundation for more than 22 ministries, which focus on praying, witnessing, helping and serving God’s people.